Home care regulation will reduce choice and boost big firms’ profits

The regulatory changes will give corporate providers more power at the expense of low-paid staff and those they care for, writes Michael Harty

Our homecare system removes the independence and control of older people — often behind the mudguard of safeguarding. Stock picture

The regulation of nursing homes and the introduction of a statutory right to nursing home care came into being in 2009 in Ireland. This led to an influx of private equity funding which changed the shape of the sector and, according to the ESRI’s report in January 2024, 74% of beds are now in private hands with just 14 companies owning 40% of all beds nationally.

We are now on the point of bringing in similar regulation and rights to Ireland’s home care sector and these changes will make the sector even more attractive to private equity, favouring a for-profit corporate ethos to proliferate in the future.